Saturday, February 10, 2018

Fez Tops 2017 Tourist Growth Figures

The tourism sector in Morocco recorded a positive balance sheet for 2017. The sector recorded strong growth in the number of non-resident tourist arrivals, overnight stays in classified tourist accommodation establishments (EHTC) and foreign exchange earnings, says a statement from the Ministry of Tourism, Air Transport, Crafts and Social Economy

The department notes that the number of tourist arrivals at border crossings was 11.35 million, an increase of 10% over 2016. "This increase affects almost the major markets of the Kingdom, as Germany (+ 15%), Holland and Italy (+ 9%), France and Spain (+ 8%), as well as the United States, which experienced a significant increase of + 29% » , adds the same source.

Emerging markets for Morocco, are experiencing the same trend, with an increase in the number of tourists from China (+ 151%), Japan (+ 39%), or Brazil (+ 38%).

As for the volume of nights spent in the EHTC, ​​it has evolved by 15% in 2017. A performance that is due to the increase of 18% of overnight stays of non-resident tourists, as well as those of resident tourists by 7%. In addition, the strongest growth in destinations was recorded in Fez (+ 39%), Ouarzazate (+ 37%), Tangier (+ 25%), Marrakech (+ 17%), Agadir and Casablanca (+ 11%). ).

The Minister of Tourism said that tourism earnings in foreign currencies reached 69.7 billion dirhams in 2017 against 64.2 billion dirhams in 2016, an increase of 8.5%.

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